Oklahoma County, OK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Oklahoma County has experienced 52 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Train Trestle Fire in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Oklahoma County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, hail, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 101% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (84th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Oklahoma County has been designated in 52 declarations since 1974, covering 8 disaster types including fire (17), severe storm (15), severe ice storm (10).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fire | Train Trestle Fire |
| 2025 | Fire | Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Fire | Luther Fire |
| 2023 | Fire | Hefner Fire, Oklahoma Fmag |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Showing the 10 most recent of 52 total declarations since 1974.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 88.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 97.6 | 115 | 1 | $282K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 94 | 250 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 99.5 | 93 | 1 | — |
| Tornado | Very High | 99.5 | 27 | 0 | $56.2M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 49.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very High | 99.7 | 389 | 0 | $20K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 83.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 91.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very High | 99.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 91.8 | 2 | 0 | $525K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 71.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 57.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Oklahoma County ranks in the 84th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 78th | High |
| Household characteristics | 85th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 84th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 70th | Moderate |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 75th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 74th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 18.8% | — |
NOAA tracked 603 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 200 in 2016–20 vs 403 in 2021–25 (+101% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Oklahoma County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma are ice storm, hail, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Oklahoma County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Oklahoma County has received 52 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is fire (17 declarations).
Has Oklahoma County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Oklahoma County include Train Trestle Fire (2026), Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds (2025), Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Luther Fire (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1974.
How does Oklahoma County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cleveland County, OK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and McClain County, OK has the lowest (Relatively Low). Oklahoma County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Oklahoma County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Oklahoma County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Oklahoma County's composite score of 98 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 98% of US counties.